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intracoastal
An Exclusive Magazine Serving the Residents of Landfall & Wrightsville Beach
MAY 2021
Learn, Activities Abound for Local Kids
Front row left to right:
Hadley Brown
Madison Sawyer
Hadley Cerrone
Leo Jackson
Row 2 left to right:
Virginia Grey Norvell
Sasha Young
Ms. Cissie Brooks
Brody Bardsley
Photo by Mark Steelman Photography
DE AR COMMUNIT Y FRIENDS,
Welcome to the May 2021 issue of Intracoastal Living, an exclusive magazine
serving the residents of Landfall and Wrightsville Beach. With warm weather
and Memorial Day marking the official start of the summer season, there’s a lot
of anticipation in the air as arms are vaccinated and restrictions in public places
PUBLICATION TEAM are eased.
PUBLISHER: George Clarke Had the spring and summer of 2020 gone as planned, a day in the life of an
average child would have meant actual classrooms, soccer and football games,
DESIGNER: Melissa Schlegel middle-school plays and theatre rehearsals, scout outings, and birthday parties.
Spending time with other children, in school classrooms, team sports, and after-
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
school activities is a crucial piece of growing up. Intracoastal Living’s Resident
Kamili Anderson, George Clarke, Terry Lane,
Feature/Cover Story, “Learn, Play and Thrive!” is a celebration and shout out
Susan Lynch, Lesley Parker, Star Sosa, Mark Versnick
to kids in our community -- and especially the teachers, parents, coaches, and
and Heather Wilson.
counselors who ensure they are not only surviving, but thriving – with diverse
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: school, after-school, and community activities available to them.
Mark Steelman Photography, Marcus Anthony Photography, Thank you to the dedicated teachers at Wrightsville Beach Elementary School,
Glenn Buck, Courtesy of the Cameron Art Museum,
who invited Intracoastal Living to visit prior to their spring break in early April
Courtesy of Jarrod Covington, Courtesy of LJ Woodard,
and photograph the “Ocean Debris” poster art produced by 4th grader’s
Courtesy of the Harbor Island Garden Club,
Courtesy of the Landfall Foundation and
instructed by Marine Science Coordinator and School Counselor, Ms. Ann
Courtesy of Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation. (Cissie) Brooks and fourth-grade teachers, Ms. Meaghan Thomas and Mr.
Woody Whittle. The Marine Science art project, sponsored by the Harbor
Island Garden Club, caught the eye of town officials in the Parks and Recreation
ADVERTISING Department who selected eight of the children’s colorful creations to post along
For sponsorships and advertising in access points at the beach, such as Johnny Mercer’s pier. The eight “Ocean Debris”
Intracoastal Living contact: posters selected by town officials are featured on the magazine front cover and also
George Clarke, Phone: 910-833-8059 proudly displayed by six of the student artists pictured here. Congratulations to all!
Email: gclarke@bestversionmedia.com The Landfall Foundation is planning its’ Gala fundraiser, “Bubbles, Bourbon
& BBQ” on September 10th, and tickets are now available. Check out the article
FEEDBACK/IDEAS/SUBMISSIONS by resident, Lesley Parker, to learn how the Landfall Foundation’s Capital
Have feedback, ideas, or submissions? Grants to Nourish NC and the Brigade Boys and Girls Club are making a
We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for
difference for individuals served by these non-profit organizations.
submissions are the 6th of each month. Go to We encourage our readers to support the sponsors who advertise in
www.bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.”
You may also email your thoughts, ideas, and photos to: Intracoastal Living and help us to bring neighbors together by providing
gclarke@bestversionmedia.com family-relevant content, touching stories, community news, and events
each month – with great story telling and feature articles.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Content Due: Edition Date: George Clarke
December 6..........................................January PUBLISHER
Intracoastal Living
January 6........................................... February
February 6............................................... March
March 6......................................................April
April 6..........................................................May
May 6......................................................... June
June 6.........................................................July
July 6......................................................August Sasha Young Brody Bardsley
August 6..........................................September
September 6........................................October
October 6......................................... November
November 6..................................... December
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not
necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality,
homeowner's association, businesses or organizations that this publication serves.
BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted.
All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
© 2021 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
Hadley Brown Madison Sawyer Hadley Cerrone Virginia Grey Norvell
BEST VERSIONMEDIA .COM MAY 2021 3
EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS
AESTHETIC MEDICAL PRACTICE EXTERIOR CLEANING
Amy Nealey Gray McCullen
Revival Laser and Skin Clinic Tim McCullen
1427 Military Cutoff Rd. Suite 104 Window Gang, Inc.
910-679-4312 910-794-2770
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ANIMAL HOSPITAL FAMILY AND GENERAL DENTISTRY
AND PET CARE John A. Overton DDS, Dentist-Owner
Drs. Rohrer, Parish, Schaffer, Mayfaire Family Dentistry
Duffy & Joplin 710 Military Cutoff Rd, Suite 100
Atlantic Animal Hospital & Pet Care Resort overtondds@mayfairefamilydentistry.com
1808 Sir Tyler Drive www.mayfairefamilydentistry.com
910-256-2624
aahpcr1@gmail.com
SURGICAL AND VASCULAR
Drs. Bebb, Harris, Medley,
DRUG AND LAB TESTING Versnick and Weinberg
Susan Lynch, Owner/Operator Wilmington Surgical Associates
Any Lab Test Now 1414 Medical Center Drive
The Landfall Center Wilmington, NC 28401
1319 Military Cutoff Rd.Suite D (910) 763-7363
Wilmington, NC 284005 www.WilmingtonSurgical.com
910-256-4440
www.anylabtestnow.com wilmington_nc
TO LEARN MORE about becoming an Expert Contributor and sponsor of Intracoastal Living,
contact gclarke@bestversionmedia.com or 910- 833-8059.
Wrightsville Beach
Elementary School
4th Grade Students
PHOTO BY MARK STEELMAN
PHOTOGRAPHY
Row 1: front row left to right: Elena Styes,
Miranda McPherson, Molly McPherson,
Elle Hommes.
Row 2 left to right: Hartley Hoff,
Emilio Lopez Rosales, Davis Davenport,
Dylan Smeilus.
Row 3 left to right: Kaylee Thigpen,
Insel VanEtten, Kalina Todorovski,
Max Bell, Ryatt Agnew, Quinn Hodges.
Row 4 left to right: Leo Jackson,
Spencer Debold, Patrick Kazmierczak,
Juliett Rotondo, Elizabeth Everhardt,
Catherine Murphey, Cameron Bridges.
Row 5 left to right: Hance Mayo,
Sasha Young, Brody Bardsley,
Noah Smeilus, Davis Davenport.
4
RESIDENT FE ATURE We thank Elevate Roofing & Exteriors for sponsoring this month’s Resident Feature story.
Row 1 left to right: Row 3 left to right:
Madison Sawyer Brady Cerrone
Stone Turner Nash Beery
Robin Diederich Cooper Brown
Stella Beausang Smith Reynolds
Jack Robinson Hadley Brown
Nolan Smyth AC Goodwin
Row 2 left to right: Row 4 left to right:
Oliver Oester Virginia Grey Norvell
Capri McGary Helena Watkins
Tennyson Oertel Grant Cahill
Hadley Cerrone Smith Reynolds
Liam Frueh Dodge Ray
Learn, After a year lost to the pandemic, kids around the Cape Fear Region will have plenty
of options to get back to having fun, living and learning with the variety of organized
Activities Abound programs and group options available to them. As COVID restrictions are being lifted,
for Local Kids youth across the Cape Fear region are experiencing the longed-for opportunity to once
again meet up to socialize, learn, play and thrive!
BY TERRY LANE AND GEORGE CLARKE From movie making to mock races, the pandemic forced some creative responses from
children’s programs across the region. Now, with more opportunity to provide recreation
PHOTOS BY MARK STEELMAN PHOTOGRAPHY, for kids, several programs from the Town of Wrightsville Beach, the Wrightsville Beach
COURTESY OF LJ WOODARD, School and local businesses are back this year.
COURTESY OF GLENN BUCK AND BOY SCOUT
TROOP 232, COURTESY OF THE HARBOR From socially distanced Marine Science field trips at the beach for Wrightsville Beach
ISLAND GARDEN CLUB, COURTESY OF JARROD Elementary students, to surf and sound standup paddle board races, outdoor theatre and
COVINGTON, COURTESY OF CEDRIC BAKER dance performances, scouting adventures in the great outdoors, junior lifeguard training,
BONEY AND COURTESY OF THE WRIGHTSVILLE flag football and basketball programs, not to mention baby-sitting classes, local kids had a
BEACH PARKS & RECREATION DEPT. lot to do in 2021; and have even more activities to participate in this summer.
6
STUDENT STEWARDS OF THE SEAS
Just before they broke for spring break in April, two classes of 4th
grade students at Wrightsville Beach Elementary learned about
the pollution of the sea by marine debris and crafted poster-
sized art containing sea animals and environmental stewardship
messages that they had studied as part of Ann “Cissie” Brooks
Marine Science class.
Prior to the students creating the posters, they learned about trash
- how long items take to decompose, corrode, or break down.
A particular focus was the negative impact plastic has on the
environment and ocean animals. They also learned the various
ways debris gets into the ocean and about the importance of the
4 Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Refuse. “Through various
lessons, projects, productions, and many beach sweeps, students
Miss “Cissie” Brooks instructs a 4th grade class. have become keenly aware of the impact of marine debris on the
ocean and our coastal environment,” Cissie said.
To bring this message home, and with the goal to curtail littering,
each class member drew a poster with a slogan and artwork with
their personal pleas for people to stop littering. With signs like
“Keep WB Free of Debris,” “Help us Help the Sea” and ‘Let’s
Work Together,” nearly two dozen students in the class made
colorful posters that will ultimately be mounted at access spots
around Wrightsville Beach.
Continued on page 8
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RESIDENT FE ATURE , continued
Harbor Island Garden
Club (HIGC) member,
Eva Elmore, a BROKER/
Realtor with Intracoastal
Realty, explained the
club’s ongoing support
for the Marine Science
art projects at the school.
“As a club we are very
interested in promoting an interest and appreciation of gardening
and environmental issues to the kids so they may become the
It’s all smiles upon arrival to the South End of Wrightsville Beach for the filming
next generation of stewards of the environment. We are excited to
of Moana Jr.
have this 4th grade class as the next group of Rooty Rascals,” she
exclaimed. “The signs they drew were so imaginative and make
LIGHTS. CAMERA. SUNRISE.
great visual reminders to all that see them!! Thank you also to the
Since the aptly named Performance Club produces performances
town of WB for posting them!”
to be staged before a live audience, its activities in 2020 were
The fourth-grade students -- who are now on the “Recycling Team” extremely disrupted by COVID-19. But as the old adage goes,
with responsibility for collecting recycling waste at the school -- the show must go on, and the director of this Wrightsville Beach
made the posters after learning about how long plastic trash takes to children’s live performance clinic found a way to make that happen.
decompose and the impact it has on ocean animals.
“The club was looking forward to producing another summer
“It's my hope that when people see this artwork by children, that stock of shows for 2020 but just days later, North Carolina went into
they don't just stop at ‘Oh isn't that cute.’ I hope they pause to reflect lockdown and anything associated with live theater was cancelled,”
on the fact that their individual actions, large and small, have a said Performance Club’s Director LJ Woodard. “It was so sad, because
consequential impact on the health of our community, our ocean, we were just celebrating the joy of theater and what it provides for
and our planet and most importantly, on the future generation, the our community especially to the youth involved...it didn’t seem real”.
little ones that made the signs,” Cissie said. “If kids can care, adults
Performance Club Kids, which is offered by the Wrightsville
can care too.”
“The ocean is a very integral part of all our Beach Parks and Recreation Department, is Wilmington’s only
lifestyles and pollution and plastics are studio theater for young actors, offering after-school programs,
impacting the health of our oceans and workshops, and summer camps for ages 5-17 where kids learn by
beaches,” said the Harbor Island Garden playing and play by acting.
Club’s Elmore. “We are so appreciative Named one of the 12 Greatest Children’s Theaters Across the
that we have been able to work with these U.S. by BACKSTAGE, they are also known for a summer stock
wonderful kids and programs.” program for young performers. In 2019, The Performance Club
put all their energy into just one production and that was Frozen
Jr which paid off because it was later honored as the recipient of
BEST CHILDREN’S THEATER PRODUCTION for 2019 by the
Star News at the Wilmington Theater Awards on March 11th, 2020.
Performance Club’s Summer Stock is a series of theatrical
productions over the summer months (by audition only) where
participants can experience semiprofessional theater within a 2-3-
week time frame at the historic Thalian Hall.
“We literally move into the space and create lasting memories all
while performing a fantastic show,” LJ said.
LJ had already purchased the theatrical rights and scripts to Moana,
Jr. which was to be their June 2020 summer stock production. In
the spirit of positive thinking and moving forward in the hopes
that the state of the COVID-19 pandemic would be better by
summer, she began casting the show through video submissions.
“I wanted to be ready when things would re-open. These kids were
going to need an outlet,” Woodard said.
8
Left: LJ Woodard, Director
of the Performance Club’s
adaptation of Moana Jr.
from stage to screen,
shoots on the South End
of Wrightsville Beach.
Below: The cast of Ocean
dancers featured with
Moana at the South End
of the beach.
The video submissions came flooding in and the show was cast
in no time. While waiting for the governor’s next executive order;
scripts were distributed, measurements for costumes were taken
and rehearsal schedules were plotted in preparation for when
things would get back to normal.
“That was the biggest challenge. How do you produce a show
under the guidelines of the COVID-19 pandemic? Thalian Hall
was offering spaced out seating, but what about the cast? How do
we keep them distanced, especially kids?” she asked.
Woodard divided the cast into small groups to rehearse at her favorite
space, Evolution Healing Arts, a studio that promotes wellness and
training for performers. However, as the weeks went by, the state of
pandemic was not getting any better, she said, and it was obvious that
a live production at Thalian Hall wasn’t going to be possible.
Determined to not disappoint the kids and to simply do something
rather than nothing; Woodard, with the help of her stage manager
Tre Richneck, devised an alternative plan for Moana, Jr. Since the
show’s plot took place on an island, they took their production
outside, on location to be filmed for an online release instead of
performing on stage.
With early 6 a.m. call times before the crowds arrived, the beaches
became their set, from the South End to the Wrightsville Beach Park.
They also utilized green screens for scenes with fewer performers.
The costumes were designed by Jen Lapalco of Sartor Designs
while junior assistant PJ Ebby choreographed the ocean sequences.
Continued on page 10
BEST VERSIONMEDIA .COM MAY 2021 9
RESIDENT FE ATURE , continued
“They really gave life to the production and color,” LJ said. “Her
only instruction was not to use the color green because of the
scenes filmed in front of the green screen. Except for the Heart of
Te Fiti character, of course. She had to be green.”
LJ said she most remembered one Instagram post from a parent who
appreciated the chance to see their child perform and feel normal
again. “For a brief moment, we forgot there was a pandemic,” LJ
said describing the post. “We got to escape from the reality that
was at that time.”
In the end, the Performance Club was able to produce an alternative
approach in presenting children’s theater during the pandemic.
Woodard admits that the challenges of the virus did make it difficult Moana Jr. adaptation from stage to screen.
to film and gave her some “low-key anxiety” from time to time but is
happy to report that the cast and creative team all remained healthy
because they washed hands, kept a distance, self-quarantined and
wore masks, until the moments of filming and recording tracks.
“No one can deny that being outside is the healthiest thing for our
kids during this time and to be able to provide that in a theatrical
atmosphere was very rewarding,” said Woodard.
Wrightsville Beach resident, Gavin Munn is a young, up and
coming actor who began his career the age of 4 as a Munchkin in
Performance Club’s Wizard of Oz on the Wrightsville Beach Park
stage! He’s gone on to land roles in television and film with co-stars
such as Zac Efron, Robert De Niro and Aden Young, according to
PC Director, LJ Woodard. Landfall resident, LJ Woodard, with Jungle Book actor, Gavin Munn of WB.
“His strong attributes are improvisation, and he continues his
professional acting training with classes, workshops and even local
community programs like Performance Club’s Children’s Theater
in the Park programs where he played Mowgli in Jungle Book,”
she said.
The Performance Club is set to bring back live outdoor
performances to Wrightsville Beach Park from April 14
(910)815-8585 through May 20 featuring Finding Nemo. Set for 5:30 p.m., the
721 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 performance will be accompanied by a food truck and a youth
Open M-Sat 10am-5pm band to entertain afterwards. Performance Club’s online theatrical
adaptation of Moana Jr. can be viewed on their website: www.
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ELITE RACERS, ELITE RESULTS
With steady balance and dogged pursuit, Wrightsville Beach’s
team of kid standup paddleboard (SUP) racers had a golden 2020
and is ready for more success in 2021. The date change of the
big local race, the Carolina Cup at the Blockade Runner Beach
Resort, to November gives the racers of the Wrightsville Beach
“Junior Elite Team”, known as the “JETs” added practice time on
local waters.
Trained by Wrightsville SUP owner Jarrod Covington from his
sound side 96 West Salisbury St. facility, membership in the JETS
ranges from 9 to 18, as this competitive and fun club has helped Membership of the Wrightsville Beach Junior Elite Team, also known as the JETs,
train young athletes for competitive races across the region since ranges from ages 9 to 18.
it was launched in 2016.
Covington said a couple of members of the JETs plan to compete
in the 13.5 mile ocean paddle, known as the “The Graveyard.”
“It’s a grueling race,” Covington said. Some of his JETs are now
training be some of the youngest ever to attempt it.
One of the competitors will be Campbell Carter, who will turn 16
in May, and brings a winning streak into summer 2021. He won
gold medals in both sprints and distance at the AAU Jr. Olympics
competitions in Palm Bay, Fla. in July 2020.And last month,
he finished in fifth place in the Treasure Coast Paddle Battle, a
10-kilometer ocean race in Ft. Pierce, Fla.
Erin Fitzpatrick, 15, a South Harbor Island resident, Jenna Wrightsville Beach locals and JETs
Blackburn and Elle Newkirk are also among the local SUP racers members Erin Fitzpatrick and Elle
that will be competing this summer. Newkirk train on Banks Channel.
Standup paddle boarding offers some insulation from the dangers
of COVID. After all, it’s fairly easy to maintain six feet of spacing
when you’re on a 12-foot board. But even though they could
practice, the kids of the Wrightsville Beach JETs paddleboard
racing team still lost a major part of their summer last year as
competitions across the country were cancelled. And since
there were no races in 2020, the JETs simply staged their own,
conducting several mock races on Banks Channel and other
surrounding waters.
“It helped them to continue to push themselves,” said Covington. “We
got together and set personal goals and paddle goals...emphasizing
that the training also had a vision of how each team member can JETs paddler Campbell Carter won Left to right, Lawson McInnis,
gold medals in both sprints and dis- Georgia Bloomer and Dylan Schmidt
make an impact as a member of society,” he said. tance at the AAU Jr. Olympics competi- from the Wrightsville Beach JETs take
tions in Palm Bay, Fla. in July 2020. the podium at the 2019 Surf to Sound
Continued on page 12 challenge at the Blockade Runner.
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RESIDENT FE ATURE , continued
SCOUTING ADVENTURES ON WB
Climbing to the top of a 54-foot tower? Camping in below-freezing
weather in shelter you yourself built? That’s the kind of adventure
Wrightsville Beach’s Boy Scout Troop found last year. Now, a few
of their members have their sights set on the Great Northwoods
this summer.
Since the Fall of 2020, Boy Scout Troop 232, which meets
regularly at Little Chapel on the Boardwalk at 2 W. Fayetteville
St. has advanced eight of its troops to the rank of Eagle Scouts. Left to right, Wrightsville Beach Boy Scout Troop 232 members William Shakar,
Sean Hession, Nathan Buck, Luke Richardson, Conner Walker, Wesley Walker,
Wrightsville Beach’s Gavin Cazeault and Landfall’s Brooks Isear William Glockner, Cutter Morgan and Kyle Buck. (Photos courtesy of Glenn Buck.)
earned Eagle Scout rank this year, joining Tab Taylor and Anders
Jensen as Landfall and WB residents who have also earned the Boy
Scouts highest honor.
More merit badges are coming in. Two of the scouts took a step
closer to their Wilderness Survival Badge last winter by building
their own shelters while camping in Carolina State Park on a
29-degree night. And a group of the scouts recently went on an
adventure at the Coastal Horizon outdoor center in Castle Hayne,
which features a climbing tower with an array of ropes, swings and
climbing holds.
“Everyone made it to the top. We climbed in the afternoon and
camped in the woods at night,” said Glenn Buck, leader of Troop 232.
Troop 232 has nearly 30 members, with a core group of about 20
members who remained “pretty active” throughout the pandemic.
The scout’s members include a dozen residents of Wrightsville
Beach and Landfall.
An Eagle Scout project at Harbor Way Gardens.
“We did a lot of local stuff so we didn’t have to carpool and could
keep separated,” Buck said. “We had camping trips to Masonboro
Camping and cleanup on Masonboro Island is part of the adventure for the Boy and Carolina Beach State Park.”
Scouts of Troop 232.
Glenn took over as troop leader in Fall 2020 after former Scout
Master, Steve Boehling, left the role once his son aged out and left for
LIFESTYLE REDESIGN college. Glenn has two sons in the troop, Nathan, 16, and Kyle, 13.
COACHING Despite the pandemic, Glenn said several scouts were very close
coping skills for aging and chronic illness to earning Eagle Scout, having mostly completed the projects and
skills tests needed to earn the prestigious ranking.
» Diabetes
“We just needed to nudge them over the finish line,” Buck said.
» Obesity
» Arthritis The local scout troop is still feeling the collateral impacts of the
» Heart Disease pandemic, as a planned trip to Canada this summer was called off
due to issues with border crossings. Many of the local members of
6626 Gordon Road Suite H, Wilmington, NC 28411 Troop 232 will now be headed to Camp Raven Knob, a Boy Scout
Phone: (910)798-4051, Fax:(910)338-0424 camp in Mt. Airy, N.C.
www.selfcaretherapy.com, Email: selfcaretherapy@gmail.com
Continued on page 14
12RESIDENT FE ATURE , continued
Hunter Barden shows off the team’s title belt, with Taylor Blackwell, Hampton Tillery, Dodge Ray,
Ronan Hoff and Ralf Henry.
BETTER THAN EVER
Back row, left to right: Cedric Boney, Luke Dorosko,
Another program offered by Wrightsville Beach Parks & Recreation Department is
Sam Artemenko, Coach Charlie Thomas. Front row,
left to right: Chase Bendjy, Smith Reynolds, and returning this year after being forced to call off its 2020 programs due coronavirus
Henry Holinsworth. restrictions. Led by fitness and athletic trainer, Cedric Baker Boney, the town’s flag
football and basketball programs had been going strong before the pandemic.
Cedric said there was an enthusiastic response from the community and when the
leagues came back this spring, they came back strong. “We’re better than ever,”
Cedric said of Wrightsville Beach’s Youth Basketball Instructional League and
Foundation Flag Football for Youth league, which run in the spring and conclude
with championships scheduled for early May. The programs have about 170 kids
enrolled, he said, and is split into age divisions for kids 6-12 years old.
The Town of Wrightsville Beach first launched the football and basketball programs
under Coach Cedric in 2016 as “clinics,” not leagues. After two years as a clinic, their
popularity grew, and soon there were enough kids enrolled to have players form
teams, wear jerseys and compete in a league.
One local mother who has seen the growth of the program said the enthusiasm brought
by Cedric and his staff of coaches make it a program her kids are excited to attend.
Front row left to right: Grayson James, Davis Wood-
bury, Wayland Beam, Samuel Cox. Back row left to “Cedric is so committed to making every single week the best time you will have had
right: Basketball Coach Josh Humphrey and Cedric all week,” said Kate Woodbury, a Wrightsville Beach mother with two of her sons in
Baker Boney. the program. “He loves his work, it’s written on his face, his joy is just contagious.
From the most talented to the least, everyone is having a good time and learning
about sportsmanship.”
Kate’s eldest son West, 9, has been in both the basketball and flag football program for
three years and her second eldest, Louie, has played in the programs for two years. Kate,
whose family owns a home on South Lumina Drive, said the coaches, along with a set of
reliable sponsors, help make the program memorable for the kids. Cedric said he seeks
to create an environment that makes the competition fun for the kids. He awards title-
fight style belts after some practices. He also brings out a DJ for basketball games.
“They love it, they can’t wait for Wednesday and Thursday,” she said. “The parents
love coming as much as the kids love playing.”
One of the factors behind the growth of this Wrightsville Beach program is the local
sponsors, Kate said.
“It’s incredibly well organized,” she said. “It has great, solid, reliable sponsorship
from some of the enterprising families around here.”
The program is also serving as a training exercise for emerging local athletes, many
who have gone on to see success at higher levels. Some of the coaches that help
Boney with the league include former professional and college athletes, he said.
“We’ve seen kids doing well for their high school teams and see the youth league as
a springboard for that,” Cedric said. “It’s about building memories for these kids.”
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WB SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS
The Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation Department offers
several other options for kids in addition to the theater, football
and basketball programs this summer.
With Kids Run the Nation, kids from age 4 to 14 can learn to
run with better form and run more confidently. Children who
are eager to play soccer can get started with Soccer Shots, offering
5-to-10-year old’s an opportunity to learn soccer skills through
a program that focuses on character development. Kids who
complete the Soccer Shots program can move on to the Soccer
Shots Academy. The town’s Parks and Recreation Department
also offer tennis lessons for youth aged 6-12.
It’s not all athletics, however.
For teens 11-14, the town offers the Safe Sitter Babysitter Training
Course, which includes guidance on how to handle emergencies,
severe weather, and other important skills. The class includes role-
playing scenarios to help train the kids. With Meyer’s Modern
Manners, kids can participate in a cotillion program that include
ballroom and popular dance, along with etiquette and social skills
training. Learn more about the children’s programs offered by the
Town of Wrightsville Beach by calling 910-256-7925.
Another Wrightsville Beach institution also offers an opportunity
for summer fun for local youth. The Wrightsville Beach Museum
of History sponsors Camp Chris Stone, where kids can learn
about fishing, marshland creatures and important ecological
details in our area. The camp is named for longtime Wrightsville
Beach resident, museum supporter and prolific naturalist, Chris
Stone. The camp is featured through a variety of dates in July. Call
the museum at (910) 256-2569 for more information about the
camp. Activities will comply with the North Carolina COVID-19
Executive Orders that are in place during the time of the program
After a summer in 2020 that was essentially lost to the pandemic,
without organized team sports and other activities for local kids,
the Landfall and Wrightsville Beach communities will have
plenty of options for their children to get back to living, learning,
~
and thriving with a variety of safely monitored outdoor programs
available this year.
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